Acquisitions / Due Diligence /  Property Valuation / Property Sales Assistance

Following are brief descriptions of select valuation/due diligence/property sales assistance projects ITPS has performed.

Bank of America / Ripley’s Aquariums

In 2003, ITPS was retained by Bank of America to conduct a business valuation of the existing Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as well as Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and to provide an independent assessment of its value. In preparing the valuation originally submitted in October of 2003, ITPS conducted an on-site review of the Ripley’s Aquarium property and operation in Myrtle Beach. On-site and subsequent review of documentation and materials led to the completed Business Valuation.

In August of 2006, Bank of America again retained ITPS to re-examine its original valuation of the Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and property and, based on its findings, to either reconfirm or update the valuation results.  To that end, ITPS researched all updated information that would have a bearing on the valuation update and obtained the most current data available upon which the reconfirmation or update would be based. 

La Ronde (Montreal, Canada)

ITPS was asked by the owners of La Ronde Amusement Park in Montreal, Canada to perform a Ride Evaluation Report of the rides on its property. The report contained:

• A brief evaluation of each ride.
• The manufacturer and date of manufacture for each ride.
• The original purchase price of the ride.
• The present market value range for each ride.
• Photographs and videotapes substantiating the findings presented in the written report.

Time Warner (New York, New York)

Warner Communications, Inc., the entertainment arm of Time Warner, Inc., completed a major stock purchase into the Six Flags Corporation, a premier amusement/theme park operator in the leisure industry. Prior to their final decision as to the viability of such a purchase, Warner Communications, Inc. requested that an analytical assessment of the Six Flags system be conducted by a highly respected, professional leisure firm.

To that end, Warner Communications, Inc. contracted ITPS to perform a Due Diligence Assessment of the Six Flags Corporation. This assignment included in-depth and on-site reviews of the assets and operations of each Six Flags park to include Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California), AstroWorld (Houston, Texas), Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, Texas), Six Flags Over Mid-America (Eureka, Missouri), Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois), Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey) and Six Flags Over Georgia (Atlanta, Georgia).

Concentrating on areas such as capital expenditure programs, long-range plans, operating history, asset maintenance, ride operations, safety, ride maintenance, retail operations, admissions policies, attendance trends, financial projections and capacity characteristics, ITPS developed an executive summary for Warner Communications, Inc., which led to the decision to finalize the initial $30 million stock purchase of the Six Flags Corporation.

Tierco Properties

ITPS was twice contracted by Tierco Properties (at one time Premier Parks) to perform a Properties Valuation, or an independent professional business valuation and asset appraisal on all their property/equipment currently owned by Premier parks and its three existing facilities:

• Frontier City - Oklahoma
• White Water Bay - Oklahoma
• Wild World - Maryland

Tierco was asked for both of these valuations by Chemical Bank. An excerpt from a letter sent to ITPS by the President of Premier Parks (as it was known) included this statement: "Chemical has reviewed your previous valuation and is comfortable with your methodology."

ITPS conducted on-site interviews with owners and managers of each property, focusing on past, present and future capital development plans, financial plans and marketing programs. The valuation of each property was based on (1) the income capitalization method using historical operating cash flow and projected cash flow, and (2) the estimated replacement value and liquidation value of each ride and piece of equipment.

ITPS subsequently updated its valuation of all assets including all additional assets since the last report.

Six Flags Corporation (Dallas, Texas)

The Six Flags Corporation asked ITPS to conduct an independent asset valuation of these Six Flags properties:

• Six Flags Over Texas - Dallas, Texas
• Six Flags Over Georgia - Atlanta, Georgia

The valuation included a general examination of rides, attractions, food/beverage, merchandise, games and support facilities. Discussions with management focused on past expenditures and the current operation. The assignment centered on estimating the value of these two properties using the "cost approach" method, or one based on existing assets. Specifically, ITPS used the market value of underlying assets method in order to determine a value for the business based on individual asset values. This method assumes that the value of a business will be realized as part of an ongoing concern, not one that is liquidated. It also reflected tangible assets at book value, including original asset cost, estimated market value and estimated replacement value. All areas of the valuation were broken down by the ride/attraction/buildings and included such items as year of service, original amount, replacement value and minimum/maximum range for each piece of equipment. This valuation encompassed several months of on-site and in-house due diligence by the ITPS team in order to provide an in-depth and detailed report for the Six Flags corporation.

Paramount Communications Company

Paramount Communications/Madison Square Garden contracted with ITPS on a fast-track basis to provide a complete due diligence valuation on these properties owned by Paramount:

• Kings Dominion - Richmond, VA
• Great America - Santa Clara, CA
• Carowinds - Charlotte, NC
• Canada's Wonderland - Toronto, Canada

Based on the ITPS design/operating and management experience, not only did ITPS review and provide valuation for the assets, we also examined and reported on such issues as:

Standard Operating Procedures; Capacities (Ride; Parking Lot; Food; Merchandise/Games); Safety/Maintenance; Live Entertainment; Data Processing; Financial Review (historical, current and future); Review of Debt Structure, Financial Statements, Tax Structures; Sponsorships; Advertising; and Staffing Levels, etc.

SouthTrust Bank, Birmingham, Alabama

ITPS was retained by SouthTrust Bank of Birmingham, Alabama to conduct a valuation of the existing Jazzland Theme Park (New Orleans, Louisiana) operation. The purpose of this assignment was to provide an independent valuation of Jazzland based on the following approaches: fair market value based on capitalized financial performance; and, fair market value and liquidation value based on equipment and property assets, both real and personal property. In preparing this valuation, ITPS conducted an on-site inspection and review of the Jazzland Theme Park property and operation in 2002.

ITPS was retained by SunTrust Bank (as Trustee for the West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority), to conduct a Business/Operations Review of the VisionLand operation in Bessemer, Alabama. The purpose of this review was to provide an examination of the overall business and operations at VisionLand, leading to any necessary recommended program changes that could potentially improve efficiency, productivity, service, and profitability.

ITPS also conducted a property valuation of VisionLand. The purpose of this valuation is to provide an independent assessment of the value of VisionLand based on the following approaches: fair market value based on capitalized financial performance, and, fair market value, replacement value, and liquidation value based on equipment and property assets, both real and personal property. ITPS was also retained as sales agent to offer VisionLand for sale.

Projects

• La Ronde - Montreal, Canada
• Time Warner, New York - Magic Mountain, Astroworld, Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags over Georgia, Six Flags Great America
• Tierco Properties - Wild World, Frontier City, Whitewater Bay
• Six Flags Corporation
• Paramount Communications (Paramount Parks) - Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Great America, Carowinds, Canada's Wonderland
• SouthTrust Bank - Jazzland
• SunTrust Bank - VisionLand
• Ogden Entertainment - Wet 'n Wild, Raging Waters, Emerald Pointe, Ocean Breeze, Castle Park
• Reino Aventura
• Dong Fang Amusement Park, Tianjin
• Children's Park, China
• Colorado's Ocean Journey Aquarium, Denver, Colorado
• Bank of America / Ripley's Aquariums